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Branching Out

Lisa Gibbar can be found on the pickleball court at HealthPoint Fitness in Cape most weekday mornings. She and a group of fellow pickleball enthusiasts love the competitiveness and the physical activity that the paddle sport creates. “We are self-taught,” Lisa said, “We learned the rules, taught ourselves the basic skills and have become friends and friendly opponents on the court.”

“I have been a member here for seven years,” Lisa explained. “I have enjoyed working out, taking group exercise classes and aquatics, but it wasn’t until I took up the game of pickleball that I saw a considerable change in my fitness level and weight.”

Pickleball combines the elements of tennis, badminton and pingpong and is played on a badminton-sized court with a paddle and plastic ball with holes. Lisa says it is a great option for the older athlete. “I have bad knees and hips, but my orthopedist encourages me to keep playing. I really never thought about losing weight when coming to the gym. I was more interested in using physical activity to keep my joints working and my cholesterol and blood pressure numbers in line.”

In January 2016, Lisa decided to make a concerted effort to improve her diet and eat healthier. Today, with the combination of diet and exercise, she has lost more than 40 pounds. “People are noticing my weight loss and that is nice,” she quipped. “The best thing is… I am accountable to myself. I know that daily exercise along with watching what I eat is the best way to stay healthy and keep fit.”